I meant to write this to you on your second birthday, but that came and left lots of glitter on the floor and now, two weeks later, I still haven't written this. . .

Forgive me, love, and I'll try to make up for lost time.

You are amazing at two! (Amazing and a terror.) Some weeks ago the beauty of self-navigation enchanted you and since then you've been half sweet baby No and half tyrannosaurs wrecks! (That's one of your favorite books right now, by the way). You're a tiny dictator with a tyrannical reign who DEMANDS that truck, this book, more candy, NO BEDTIME!

Today you threw hot sausage at Daddy during Aunt Sarah's birthday brunch and screamed with terrible ferocity when daddy took your plate away. That's not all of the time though. Last night in the car, you made all of us laugh with an un-ending chorus of "Garbage truck! Garbage truck! I want ride a garbage truck!" In that sweet high-pitched voice of yours.

"That any of us is saved is owing to the wonderful truth that the death of Christ obtained the grace by which God conquered our hearts and caused us to love the One we once hated." - John Piper

You also love Aurora, Zeke, and Isaac Smesong, and you talk about them constantly. You like batman jammie's, seeing whatever I'm looking at on my iPhone ("I see! I see!), and swinging (forever) on our swings. You also love stealing the hose from me and watering the garden, to my great (and sopping wet) dismay.

I love your blonde whispy hair, your full-force smile, and duck-giggle. Your laugh knocks the breath out of me with a truckload of joy. When I drive you to school in the morning you comment on every "BIG TWUCK!!" that we see! You also love to chase Dobby and tell him "No! No! No! Dobby! You have sick heart!"

You're only two but I can clearly see your joyful spirit, curiosity, love, and compassion for others. I'm so overwhelmed with love for you, little boa, I can't even begin to describe it.

You're probably wondering why I'm writing you this sappy letter. Well I think it's 90% more for me than you. I can't contain how much I love you and how very thankful to God I am to get the joy of being your only mommy.

Sorry, preemptively, for all of the times I will fail you this year and in the years to come. I wish I could be the perfect mother but only God is perfect. That's why I will again give you the best advice I have. Look to The Lord, not your own strength, goodness, or abilities. As my own life can bear witness, you will fail you more than any other person in your life. Give up our practiced omphaloskepsis and fix your eyes on Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith.

"‘Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you."
(‭Jeremiah‬ ‭32‬:‭17‬ ESV)